Internal-combustion engine



Jam-14, 1947. AWEISS A 2,414,217

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed NOV. 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l MM VaJQZig b BY I 4744i /)ATTORNEY 7 v14, 4 A.WEISS ET AL I 2,414,217

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed NOV. 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w W wvww i WW Patented Jan. 14, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE iNTERNAL -COMBUSTION ENGINE Abraham Weiss and Joseph Weiss, New York, N. Y.

3 Claims.

This invention. relates to internal combustion engines for motor vehicles and has for its main object the provision of a construction whereby the efliciency of theengine will be considerably enhanoed.

It is well known that with such engines, as at present in use, the efficiency is limited because of the fixed volume of the explosion chamben so that after attaining a maximum efficiency by a certain charge of fuel, an increase of the charge will lower the efficiency of the engine. This drawback is obviated by our present invention according to which the volume of the combustion chamber is made automatically expansible in order that varyingcharges of fuel may be compressed in the engine cylinders under constant pressure.

We are aware that attempts have been made to obtain this result by similar methods, but to our knowledge none were successful because of the faulty construction of the means for controlling the variation of the combustion chamber,

Other objects of our invention will be apparent from the detailed description thereof, by referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters denotecorresponding parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic sectional elevation of an internal combustion engine having a cylinder provided with an auxiliary reciprocatory pistonand means for controlling the movement thereof during compression so as to produce constant pressure after the effective compression ratio is reached.

Fi ures 2 and 3 are similar elevations of modifi'ed forms of construction of said engine toproduce the same effect as that obtained with the construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 44 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a similar sectionof a modification derstood that with multiple cylinder engine each in axial extension of each main cylinder, and inwhich works an auxiliary piston l4 provided with An annular rib. l2a is.

the usual piston rings. provided at the lower. end of said chamber l3 to serve as a stop for. limiting the outer movementv of said auxiliary piston M} The space I3 behind said auxiliary piston l4.is adapted. to be filled with a non-compressible fluid, such as oil,

from a reservoir (not shown) through a passage of aninternal combustion engine having a remodification of an internal combustion engine having two independently reciprocating pistons and means for controlling themovements thereof so asito enlarge the intake volume of the fuel during intake, and to compressthe same to an extent causing self-ignition.

Inthe drawings We; have shownonly one cylin den of an internal combustion engine. It: is un-- 13 leading into it at the rear or upper closed end of said chamber. This passageis controlled by a suitable valve l5, such as a spring actuated ball valve. Another passage l3 leads. from said rear end of chamber I3 back into said reservoir and is controlled by a needle valve I6 actuated by a spring Hi whose force is designed to hold said valve tightly closed under any'pressure less than that of the effective compression ratio, say

lbs. or whatever it may be. H denotes a timing cam operated from the main'shaft of the engine in any suitable manner (not shown) and adapted to force the valve l6 back onto its seat at the instance the main pistonlll has reached the end of its compression stroke and before the firing occurs.

The operation is as follows:

Normally the space behind the auxiliary piston is filled with the non-compressible fluid such as oil, and the valves"! 5 and [B are closed so that the fluid is trapped in the chamber It Asa result thereof the auxiliary piston I4 is heldat the forward or lower end of chamber I3; during the intake stroke and part ofthe compression stroke of the main piston Hi. When the effective compressionratio is reached the corresponding. pres 7 sure of the trapped fluid will overcome the spring force of the needle valve 16; permitting the fluid to escape throughpassage 13, so that the auxiliary piston l 4 will now move inwardly in chambar It, thereby maintaining constant, the effective compression ratio up to the instant the piston H1 arrives at the end of its, compression stroke. At that instant thecam' ll: acts1onthe valve l5 reseating it, and arresting the auxiliary piston during the firing. After the expansion stroke the cam l1 unlocks the valve l6, which, however, rema ns closed under its spring force until the eifective compression ratio is reached in the succeeding cycle.

After expansion and during exhaust, the fluid. will be permitted to enter the chamber I3 through the passage I3 whose check valve I5 will open under pressure of the fluid in the reservoir, so that the auxiliary piston M will be caused to move back to the forward or initial position thereby aiding in the expulsion of the exhaustgases.

It will be seen from the foregoing description of operation of the engine, that the efiiciency of chamber I3 by a spring l8 which may be mounted in an annular groove M thereof to bear against a flange l3 of the chamber I3 The ball valve l5 controlling the inlet passage |3 may beactuated automatically by the nose I9 of a rock lever |9 pivoted to a movable member 2|! supported by a pull spring 2|) on the rear wall of said chamber I3 The opposite end of said rock lever may be operatively connected to a spring actuated plunger 2| slidably mounted in a channel 22 opening in said chamber |3 When the fluid contained in the space of the chamber l 3 behind the auxiliary piston I4 is compressed 7 under the pressure of the efiective compression ratio, the spring Zi of the plunger 2| will yield and said plunger 2| will move inwardly in channel 22 and thereby swing the rock lever |9 so as to unseat the valve l5 and permit the fluid to'be forced back into the reservoir, so that the auxiliary piston I4 will be allowed to move in synchronism with the main piston I under constant pressure.

The outer end ofmember 20 is adapted to act as armature of a solenoid 23. This solenoid is ada ted to be ener ized by an electric circuit controlled through a time controlled make and break mech nism similar to the conventional spark d str butor mechanism (not shown). When this solenoid is energized. which will occur at the instant the piston it reaches the firing position, the member 20 w ll be attracted i. e. moved from its normal position against the tension of its pull spring. By th t movement the fulcrum |9 of the rock lever will be d splaced so that the movement of the plunger 2| in the channel 22 will not afiect the valve l which will instantaneously close trapping the fluid in chamber I3 and arresting the aux liary piston HP.

The operation is as follows 2 During the compression stroke of the main piston H in the cylinder ID the auxiliary piston I4 will at first be stationary, because of the fluid being trapped With n the -chamber I3 by the closed valve 15. At the instant the effective compression ratio for the maximum efficiency is reached, the spring 2| will yield allowing the plunger 2| to move inwardly. This movement willcause the rock lever 19 to unseat the ball valve 5 permitting the fluid 'to be forced back intoits" reservoir; The" auxiliary piston M will then be permitted to move inwardly under constant compression pressure.

At the instant the main piston reaches the end of the compression stroke or the firing position, the solenoid 23 will be energized. This will cause the member to be attracted thereby displacing the fulcrum I9 of rock lever I9 and releasing the valve l5 permitting the latter to close under its spring force and trapping the fiuid in said chamber [3 The fluid thus trapped will act as brake against the auxiliary piston I4 preventing its further movement. After the firing stroke the solenoid 23 will be disenergized and member 20 return to normal position.

During the exhaust and subsequent intake the relatively weak spring it will move the piston M to its initial end position.

In the modification according to Figure 3-the auxiliary chamber I3 movably bears a piston 24 provided with a central inwardly projecting extension 24. This extension projects into and movably bears in a liquid chamber 25 provided in the rear or upper closed wall or lid 26 of the chamber |3 Leading from the fluid reservoir into this liquid chamber is the passage 25 controlled by a spring actuated inlet valve l5. Another passage 25 leads from said chamber back into said reservoir. This passage is controlled by a valve 21. This valve is adapted to be held normally closed by a spring 28 and its stem 29 serves as armature of solenoid 23, At its free end this stem is provided. with-a catch 29 Movably supported by spring 30 on the upper or rear wall or lid of the chamber It is a yoke shaped member 3| which is provided with a central projection or boss 3|. The free ends of said yoke project into the chamber l3 and slidably engage slotted pro-- jections 24 of the piston 24 arranged near the periphery of the latter. When moved upwardly or rearwardly this yoke is capable of moving said piston along with it as will be hereinafter de-- scribed.

A double armed lever 32 pivoted at 32 is suitably connected to a rod 33 which is actuated from a suitable timing cam 34. The free end of said double armed lever when swung toward the yoke 3| is adapted to act against the boss 3| andmove said yoke forwardly or downwardly. Pivotally suspended from said lever 32 is a looped member or hook 33 adapted to operatively engage said catch 29 when said lever 32 is swung away from said yoke 3| and unseat the valve 21 against soon as intake commences, the cam 34 will swing I the lever 32 away from the yoke 3| as a result'of which the looped member 33 in cooperation with catch 29 will raise the valveZ'l from its seat. Simultaneously the released yoke 3| will rise under the action'of its springs 30, and when the lower ends thereof engage the upper ends of the guides 24 will move the piston 24 inwardly, the

fluid being now allowed to return to the fluid reservoir through passage 25*. Thus during intake, while the piston in the main cylinder will move'downwardly or outwardly the auxiliary a ing-arr piston "24 will move: upwardly or' inwardly in chamber l3 thereby=enlarging:the vacuum space fortheintake of fuelmixture.

At.the*end of intakeand commencementtof compressionlever 32 again. is swung. down,- pressing yoke 31 down. This. releases valve 21. which will close under-pressureof its spring 28. This traps the' fluid under pressure which is entering the chamber. 25', through valve I5 to move-the plunger 724 and therefore the :auxiliary piston 24 outwardly before piston H has actually started to move inwardly and compress the fuel. At the end. of itsuoutward stroke, the auxiliary piston will: remain stationary until the compression of the fuel in the intake chamber if! has reached the efiective ratio. At that instant. the force of spring 28 will yield. under. the pressure of the fluid inchamber 25 causing valve 21 to open. The lost motion provided between the lower ends of the yoke and the upper ends of the guides 24 will permit the piston. 24 to move inwardly in synchronism with the main piston in under constant pressure, until the end of the. compression stroke of the main-piston. At thatxinstant' the distributor'switch (not shown) closes the electrio circuit through the solenoid 23, which causes valve 2'! to close again and the fluid to enter.

iliary piston is composed'of two movably interen- Section 35, constituting gaging sections 35, 35. the auxiliary piston proper, is formedwith a-centralneck portion 33 which projects into the perforated bottom of the hollow section 39. The inner end of the neck 35 is formed with a flange which prevents the disengagement of the two sections 35, 36 from one another and between which and the rear or inner end wall of the section 36 is mounted a spring 3! normally tending to hold the two sections extended. The section 36 is provided with a central rearwardly projecting boss 33 having a flange 36 between which and the closed end of the chamber 38 is mounted a spring 39 which normally tends to move the hollow section 33 upwardly or inwardly. Adapted to act against the free end of said boss 39 is a rock lever 40 which as in the modification shown in Figure 3 is adapted to be actuated in suitable manner by a timing cam 4! impelled from the main shaft of the engine. The chamber 38 is provided with two passages 38 and 38 the former leading from and the latter leading back into a non-compressible fluid reservoir (not shown). The passage 33* is controlled by a needle valve 42 which under the tension of a spring 43 normally holds said valve closed. The perforations 35 in the bottom of the hollow section 36 permit the passage of the fluid into the latter.

Suspended from the rock lever 49 is a push member 44 which at its free end carries a spring actuated plunger 45 capable when the lever is in active position to engage the free end of the stem 42 of the needle valve 42 and to lock the same, as will be presently described.

The operation is as follows:

During the intake stroke of the main piston ID the rock lever 40 will be up or away from the boss 39, permitting the hollow section 38 of the auxiliary plunger to move inwardly and pull the solid or: other-section. 35. along with'it by thecollar oryfiange35b; therebyv enlarging the intake space of the engine; During'that movement thepassage! will becomeexposed so that fluid that may havebeenpreviously expelled may be replenished in chamber'38 betweenthe two sections of the auxiliary piston;

- Atthe end of the intake stroke andat the commencement of the" compression. stroke the rock lever will be swung to act against the boss 39 and force the hollow. sectiontfi outwardly, closing the passage 38 and causing the other section 35 to move outwardly. under the pressure of the fluid trapped ,betweenxthe twosections. At the same time the push member 44 will reach the free end of thestem 42 of valve 42. Owing to resiliency of the plunger 45 of the push rod 44, the valve 42 will, at first, thereby not become locked, so that when the effective compression ratio is reached the spring 43 of the valve 42 may yield, to permit the escape of the fluid through the passage 33 At that instant the auxiliary piston will be permitted to move inwardly thereby maintaining the compression pressure constant until the end of the compression stroke or the firing. At that instant the cam 41 will impart a slight'further downward movement to the rock lever 49, forcing section 36 outwardly to raise the compression to self-ignition, and whereby the plunger 45 will be completely forced down against the valve stem 42 and thereby lock 7 said valve 42 in closed position. The trapped fluid will instantaneously arrest the piston. The valve42 will remain closed and locked until after the exhaust, whenthe lever 40' will again swing away from the' boss 39 permitting spring 39 to pull the-auxiliary'piston inwardly as hereinbefore described, repeating the cycle.

In the modification according to Figure 6, we provide two auxiliary chambers 45, 4'! in which reciprocate. independently of one another auxiliary pistons 48, 49 respectively. An annular rib 41b is provided at the lower end of chamber 41 to serve as a stop for limiting the outer movement of said auxiliary piston 43. The chamber 41 behind the auxiliary piston 49 is adapted to be filled with non-compressible fluid from a reservoir (not shown) through a passage 41 controlled by ball valve l5, and. has a second passage 47 leading back into said reservoir and controlled by a needle valve 21 acted upon by spring 28 and whose stem 29 serves as armature of a solenoid 23 similar to the modification shown in Figure- 3. The second auxiliary piston 43 'is provided with a piston rod 48 and is adapted to normally move inwardly under the tension of spring 59 mounted between the closed rear end of the chamber 46 and a collar 48*. The free end of said piston rod is adapted to be acted upon by the rock lever 40 operated by a timing cam 5l,.as will be presently described. The operation is as follows:

During intake the cam 5| swings lever 49 away from piston rod 48 permitting auxiliary piston 48 to move inwardly under action of its spring '50, thereby enlarging intake volume of the fuel mixture. During that period the valves I5 and 2'! being closed in chamber 41 trap the fluid behind the auxiliary piston 49 and hold it in its lower end position. Duringa portion of the compression stroke the piston 49 remains stationary until the eifective compression ratio is reached. At that instant the spring 28 of the valve 21 yields II in main cylinder, maintaining the pressure constant. When the main piston reaches the end of the compression stroke or the firing position, the solenoid 23 is energized and locks the valve 21 on its seat. At the same instant the lever 40 is rocked to depress the second auxiliary piston 48 in chamber 46 and thereby raise the compression pressure to self-ignition; At the end of the firing stroke the solenoid 23 is disenergized. Due to the drop of pressure in the combustion chamber the fluid entering under a certain pressure the chamber 41 through the passage 41 will force the piston 49 down thereby aiding in the expulsion of the exhaust gases.

The piston 49 may be properly guided in the chamber 4! by any suitable means.

By this last described modification, spark plugs, distributor make and break mechanism and other parts at present required to produce ignition can be entirely eliminated.

To prevent the fluid from escaping into the combustion chamber or air and gases passing into the fluid chamber and forming bubbles therein, suitably controlled escape vents (not shown) may be provided in the auxiliary chamhers.

It is, of course, obvious that various other modifications may be made in the construction of internal combustion engines without departing from the principle of our invention and we therefore, do not wish to limit ourselves to the details described and shown.

What we claim is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, the com# bination with its cylinder and piston, of a chamber in extension of the inner end of said cylinder, a reciprocatory member working in said chamber,

a valve controlled means ,for admitting non-' elastic fluid under pressure from a flow passage into the inner end of said chamber, said valve controlled means preventing return flow of said fluid, a spring loaded valve controlling a second flowpassage for said non-elastic fluid, the load ing'of said valve serving normally to maintain said valve closed and to preclude return flow through said second passage until a predetermined counter-pressure is exerted upon said reciprocatory member from below the closed end of said chamber, and time controlled means in timed relation with said engine operable on said spring loaded valve for closing the latter in opposition to said counter-pressure.

2. In an internal combustion engine, according to claim 1, in which means are provided for rais-v ing the compression pressure at the end of the compression stroke to cause self-ignition oi the fuel.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with its cylinder and piston, of a ehamher in extension of the inner end of said cylinder and divided into two compartments, a reciprocating member in each compartment, means for establishing fluid pressure behind the reciprocatory member in one of said compartments so as to hold the member therein stationary during a portion of the compression stroke of said piston, means in timed relation with the engine for relieving said pressure at the instant the effective compression ratio is reached to permit said member to move inwardly under constant pressure, timing means for reestablishing fluid pressure behind said member at the end of the compression stroke to again hold said member stationary during firing, means in timed relation with the engine tending to move the member in the other compartment inwardly during the intake stroke so as to enlarge the volume of the fuel charge and timing means for positively moving said second member outwardly at the end of the ,compression stroke of said piston to raise the compression of the fuel to self-ignition.

' ABRAHAM WEISS.

JOSEPH WEISS. 

